Hockey stick shaft

ABSTRACT

A hockey stick handle shaft comprising a substantially rectangular cross-sectional core member. The substantially rectangular cross-sectional core member includes first and second major surfaces, with each major surface positioned opposite one another. The core member further includes a first member adhered to the first major surface and a second member adhered to the opposite second major surface, the first and second members increasing the structural integrity of the core member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

[0001] Applicant claims the priority date of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/243,610, filed Oct. 26, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a hockey stick. In particular,the present invention relates to a handle shaft of the hockey stick.

[0003] A hockey stick includes an elongated handle shaft with a bladeattached thereto. The elongated handle shaft typically has a rectangularcross-section along a central longitudinal axis, with the blade attachedat one end protruding substantially parallel to the wide sides of therectangular cross-section of the elongated hockey shaft.

[0004] In use, when a player strikes a puck with the blade of the hockeystick, the handle shaft undergoes a variety of different stresses. Thereare torsional stresses resulting from the torquing of the blade uponcontacting the puck that tends to twist the handle shaft. There are alsoshearing stresses arising from the blade striking the ground or ice. Dueto either of these forces or a combination of them both, it is typicalfor the shaft of the hockey stick to break sometimes prematurely.

[0005] Shaft destruction is problematic in both professional and amateursports. When a the handle shaft breaks during a game, a player is leftwithout a means for guiding or deflecting the puck either offensively ordefensively, resulting in the player becoming less effective. Thishinders the ability of the whole team, allowing the opponent a betterchance of scoring.

[0006] Additionally, replacement of broken or damaged hockey sticks maybecome quite expensive. This is especially a factor in an amateursituation, where it is typical for either the player or the player'sparent to purchase equipment for the player to play on a hockey team.These players need a dependable, high strength and durable hockey stickwhich can be used for an extended period of time.

[0007] High strength durability are not the only factors to beconsidered, however. There are examples in the prior which teach themanufacturing of shafts from high strength metals, composite materials,all hardwood material or combinations of all three. Shafts manufacturedfrom metals and composite materials may have high strength anddurability, however, these shafts do not have the same type of “feel” ofa natural wood hockey shaft.

[0008] Shafts made from wood and reinforced with composite materialsinclude the BAUER® 3050 (solid aspen wood core reinforced withfiberglass), and the KOHO® 2285 (aspen wood core reinforced withfiberglass and graphite). While these sticks are primarily made of wood,the construction of the shaft with the addition of the fiberglass and/orgraphite diminishes the overall wood character of the shaft. In essence,the undesirable traits of the of the fiberglass and graphite overpowerthe desirable traits of the wood. What is missing is the resiliency andnatural flexibility of an all-wood shaft. Therefore, what is needed is ashaft with improved strength and durability characteristics, whileretaining the natural feel of a wooden shaft.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention includes a handle shaft of a hockey stick.The handle shaft includes a wooden core member having a substantiallyrectangular cross-section along a central longitudinal axis. Therectangular core member includes first and second major sides, and thirdand fourth minor sides. The first major side includes a fiber-glassveneer adhered thereon, while the second major side includes an aircraftveneer adhered thereon. The third and fourth minor sides include woodenveneer strips adhered thereon. Each veneer member improves thestructural integrity of the core member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hockey stick of the presentinvention.

[0011]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a handle shaft of the hockey stickof the present invention.

[0012]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the handle shaft of the hockeystick of the present invention taken along line A-A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] A hockey stick of the present invention is indicated generally at10 in FIG. 1. The hockey stick 10 is comprised of two basic components.A blade component 12 in which to contact a puck (not shown) or similarobject during play, and an elongated handle shaft component 14 for aplayer to maneuver the blade 12.

[0014] The handle shaft component 14 of the present invention comprisesa core member 16 having a substantially rectangular cross-section alonga central longitudinal axis 18, as best illustrated in FIG. 2.Preferably, the core member 16 is manufactured from a hardwood such asAspen, Poplar, or an equivalent thereof.

[0015] Referring to FIG. 3, the substantially rectangular core member 16includes four sides 20, 22, 24, 26 with two major surfaces 20, 22 andtwo minor surfaces 24, 26. The two major surfaces 20, 22 are defined bythe parallel opposing sides of the rectangular core member having thegreater width dimensions and run the entire length of the core member16. The two minor surfaces 24, 26 are defined by the parallel opposingsides of the core member having smaller width dimensions and also runthe entire length of the core member 16. It should be noted, however,that it is within the scope of this invention to have a square coremember 16. In the alternative embodiment including a square core member16, the first major surface is defined as the lead side of the coremember 16 which faces a puck during play as will be discussed further,while the second major surface 22 directly opposes the first majorsurface 20.

[0016] Attached to the first major surface 20 of the elongated coremember 16 is a first veneer member 28. Preferably, the first veneermember 28 is constructed of a 2 carbon fiber-glass material, however anymaterial with similar characteristics is within the scope of thisinvention. Attached to the opposing second major surface 22 is a secondveneer member 30. Preferably, the second veneer member is constructed ofa 10-ply aircraft veneer member. Those skilled in the art of hockeystick manufacture will appreciate that aircraft veneer may beconstructed from a variety of hardwoods. The selected aircraft veneer ofthe present invention is preferably constructed from white birch wood.Both the first fiber-glass veneer member 28 and the second aircraftveneer member 30 are preferably attached to the core member 16 by way ofadhesion such as a suitable adhesive. However, other means of attachmentwould be within the scope of this invention.

[0017] As mentioned, the first major surface 20 of the hockey shaft isdefined as the surface of the core member 16 which is situated to facethe direction in which to strike the hockey puck with the blade 12 ofthe hockey stick 10. This lead side position is therefore relative towhether the stick is a right-handed stick or a left-handed stick. Ineach case, the blade 12 is attached to the shaft 14 such that the blade12 protrudes away from the shaft 14, the face 36 of the blade 12 facingthe same direction as the first major surface 20 of the core member 16,as illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0018] When striking a puck with increased force, the core member 16 issubjected to a variety of shear, compressive, and tensile stresses. Thecontact between the blade 12 and either the puck or the ice tends tobend or deform the shape of the handle shaft 14 from an originalposition. Being that the first major surface 20 faces the direction ofthe puck, the bending of the shaft 14 places a tensile stress on thefirst veneer member 28. At the same time, the opposing second veneermember 30 is placed under a compressive stress. The elastic and durablequalities of the fiber-glass veneer 28 attached to the lead surface 20of the core member 16 allow the shaft 14 of the hockey stick 10 to bendwithin tolerable standards without destruction of the core member 16.The same elastic and durable qualities of fiberglass veneer 28 tend tobring the shaft 14 of the hockey stick 10 back to the original positionfaster than if both veneers 28, 30 were constructed of aircraft veneer.

[0019] Attached to the third minor surface 24 of the core member 16 is athird veneer member 32. Additionally, attached to the opposing fourthminor surface 26 of the core member 16 is a fourth veneer member 34.Both the third and fourth veneer members, 32 and 34 respectively, arepreferably constructed of birch wood, and more particularly yellow birchwood. However, any material having equivalent properties of birch woodwould be within the scope of this invention. The third and fourth veneermembers 32 and 34 aid in supporting the structural integrity of the coremember 16 from torsional strain. With the blade 12 of the hockey stick10 protruding away from the shaft 14, a torquing force results wheneverthe blade 12 contacts the puck, ice, or any other object. The torquingforce tends to twist the core member 16, and if the force is greatenough, destruction of the core member 16 results. With the addition ofthe third and fourth veneer members 32 and 34, the amount of twistingupon the core member 16 is reduced, thus strengthening the core member16.

[0020] In the preferred embodiment, the average weight of the hockeystick 10 is approximately 610 grams, the width of the stick 10 beingapproximately 0.790 inches (the width of the core member 16 in additionto the first and second veneer members 28 and 30 respectively), theheight of the stick 10 being approximately 1.165 inches (the height ofthe core member 16 in addition to the third and fourth veneer members 32and 34 respectively). The first veneer member has an approximatethickness of at least 0.0420 inches. The second veneer member has anapproximate thickness of 0.2145 inches. The third and fourth veneermembers 32 and 34 have an approximate thickness of about 0.0620 inches.The hockey stick 10 has a hockey length of approximately 57.5 inches, ashaved handle length of approximately 6 inches, and a taper length ofapproximately 11.5 inches.

[0021] Although the present invention has been described with referenceto preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize thatchanges may be made in form and detail without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

1. A hockey stick handle shaft comprising: a core member having asubstantially rectangular cross-section along a central longitudinalaxis, the core member including first and second major surfaces; a firstmember adhered to the first major surface of the core member; a secondmember adhered to the second major surface of the core member; and thefirst and second members providing structural integrity to the coremember.
 2. The shaft of claim 1 wherein the core member furthercomprises third and fourth minor surfaces, the third and fourth minorsurfaces positioned substantially orthogonal to each first and secondmajor surfaces.
 3. The shaft of claim 2 and further comprising: a thirdmember adhered to the third minor surface; a fourth member adhered tothe fourth minor surface; and the third and fourth members providingstructural integrity to the core member.
 4. The shaft of claim 1 whereinthe core member is constructed of wood.
 5. The shaft of claim 4 whereinthe core member is constructed of an aspen-type wood.
 6. The shaft ofclaim 1 wherein the first member is a fiber-glass veneer.
 7. The shaftof claim 6 wherein the thickness of the fiber-glass veneer is at leastabout 0.042 inches.
 8. The shaft of claim 1 wherein the second member isa wooden veneer.
 9. The shaft of claim 8 wherein the second member is awhite birch veneer.
 10. The shaft of claim 8 wherein the wooden veneeris at least about 0.24 inches thick.
 11. The shaft of claim 3 whereinthe third member is wood veneer.
 12. The shaft of claim 3 wherein thefourth member is wood veneer.
 13. The shaft of claim 1 1 wherein thethird member is constructed of yellow birch wood veneer.
 14. The shaftof claim 12 wherein the fourth member is constructed of yellow birchwood veneer.
 15. The shaft of claim 1 wherein the first major surface isa lead surface.
 16. A handle shaft of a hockey stick having asubstantially rectangular cross-section core member along a centrallongitudinal axis, the core member having a member adhered to eachsurface, each member providing support to the structural integrity ofthe core member, the shaft comprising: a core member having asubstantially rectangular cross-section along a central longitudinalaxis, the core member including: a first major surface; a second majorsurface; a third minor surface; and a fourth minor surface; a firstmember adhered to the first major surface; a second member adhered tothe second major surface; a third member adhered to the third minorsurface; and a fourth member adhered to the fourth minor surface. 17.The shaft of claim 15 wherein the first member includes a fiber-glassveneer.
 18. The shaft of claim 15 wherein the second member includes awooden veneer.
 19. The shaft of claim 17 wherein the second memberincludes an aircraft veneer.
 20. The shaft of claim 18 wherein theaircraft veneer includes a white birch wood.
 21. The shaft of claim 15wherein the third and fourth members include a wood veneer.
 22. Theshaft of claim 20 wherein the third and fourth members include yellowbirch wood veneer.
 23. The shaft of claim 15 wherein the first memberhas a thickness of at least about 0.042 inches.
 24. The shaft of claim15 wherein the second member has a thickness of at least about 0.214inches.
 25. The shaft of claim 15 wherein the third and fourth membershave a thickness of at least about 0.062 inches.
 26. The shaft of claim15 wherein the core member includes a wood material.
 27. The shaft ofclaim 25 wherein the core member includes an aspen wood.
 28. The shaftof claim 1 wherein the first major surface is a lead surface.